There are only eight players in NBA history who have scored over 30,000 points. With the NBA trade deadline on the horizon, the Phoenix Suns may be prepared to move one of them. But amid reports that the title-contender is listening to offers for Kevin Durant, there’s at least one team that hasn’t been listed as a potential suitor and should: the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Thunder Getting In On Kevin Durant Trade Boosts Title Chances
A franchise that Durant infamously left when they were at their previous zenith, the Thunder are the real deal.
For the past two seasons, they’ve managed to have the best West’s record. Myriad factors –their age, their personnel’s relative inexperience, the talent dispersed throughout the conference –contribute to this being quite the accomplishment. However, despite them being taken seriously for the first time since Durant’s departure, it often feels like it’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or bust.
In fact, when Gilgeous-Alexander doesn’t score at least 25 points, OKC is 69-73 all-time. Over the past three seasons, they’re 20-14, a win percentage (.588) that would have them sixth in the Western Conference standings this season. That being said, as the soon-to-be three-time MVP candidate has averaged at least 30 points per game in each of the past three seasons, it’s not as if he can’t carry the load. It’s just quite the burden.
If 2022 No. 2 pick Chet Holmgren could stay healthy it would help. Yet, he’s averaging 16.5 points per game in his young career, not yet ready to step into the limelight. 2022 No. 12 pick Jalen Williams is averaging a career-high 21.1 points per game in 2024-25. However, the number of games where he’s scored under 20 points (18) is too close to the number of games where he’s scored over 20 points (27), underscoring the variance in his performance.
Durant, who has averaged at least 25 points per game every season since 2008-09, is exactly the type of player that the Thunder needs right now. He’s well aware that it’s Gilgeous-Alexander’s team, so there won’t be any coups or power struggles. He’ll just come in and do his job, taking a lot of pressure off of Gilgeous-Alexander at the offensive end.
The Expendables
Where it gets tricky is assessing what would be worthwhile to give up in a trade for the 36-year-old.
Though they’ve all performed above expectations since entering the league, Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe should be considered expendable. Should there be an insistence upon including a star-caliber young player, OKC should be willing to part with Holmgren as well. Though the Gonzaga product has immense potential, he’s only played 92 games since being drafted.
The best trade sending Durant to the Thunder should only require these four players and a first-round pick or two. It also will require Phoenix and Oklahoma City to work with other teams. At this juncture, the Miami Heat is the most feasible partner, as they’re already working to get Jimmy Butler to the Suns.
Trade Partners?
It’s worth noting that Phoenix is engaged with Washington on a trade that sends Jonas Valanciunas to Phoenix in exchange for Jusuf Nurkic and draft capital, according to multiple reports.
Not done but possible but would only be tied to a bigger trade. Suns would have to give up a pick on this so it would be part of a bigger deal. Suns not really interested in Jonas. https://t.co/l80tVlSRa8
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) February 4, 2025
With the help of a third team, moving Nurkic in this deal could get the Suns under the second apron. This allows them to aggregate contracts, opening up legitimate pathways towards completing a trade. So, the step-wise deal could eventually look like this:
Suns receive: Jonas Valanciunas
Wizards receive: Jusuf Nurkic, draft capital
Team 3 receives: Saddiq Bey, draft capital
-then-
Suns receive: Jimmy Butler, Chet Holmgren, Lu Dort
Wizards receive: Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, draft capital
Heat receive: Kyle Kuzma, Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, draft capital
Thunder receive: Kevin Durant, Oso Ighodaro
Frankly, the Suns might not get a better package than this for Durant. Meanwhile, the Wizards won’t get the best player. However, Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale are off-ball shooters who won’t negatively impact the development of their young core, unlike Kyle Kuzma. Additionally, though they’re on longer contracts, they aren’t being paid above-market salaries. This makes it easier to move them down the line.
The Heat would probably prefer a package that includes Golden State Warriors wing Andrew Wiggins. Nonetheless, with Butler blocking any trade that doesn’t send him to Phoenix, this might be their best option. With that being said, if the Milwaukee Bucks are able to get under the second apron, they could potentially flip Kuzma in a deal for Khris Middleton.
Hearing from sources that Middleton from Bucks to Washington for Kuzma is getting close, as is a Wizards-Suns Valanciunas-Nurkic move.
Story coming from @HeavyOnSports on how some teams are looking to make a run, while others position for Cooper Flagg.
Plus Luka-AD talk…
— Steve Bulpett (@SteveBHoop) February 4, 2025
From the Thunder’s perspective, Isaiah Hartenstein and Oso Ighodaro make it easier to accept sacrificing Holmgren. What’s most important is keeping Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams to help maximize their firepower. With those two starring alongside Durant, it’ll be hard to beat OKC on a bad day.
© Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
